Some folks teach school to make a living or to have extra spending money, but some are there because of their love of teaching students and coaching them into being better human beings. LC’s Scott Osborn has been that to the extreme during his career at the school.
Last week he was nominated as the “Teacher of the Year” in the state of Kentucky. He is one of 12 finalists for the honor which has not been won by a local teacher in recent memory.
Osborne has worked with the Lazer on reports and salutes and we are extremely proud to honor him this week. We asked Scott to send a comment on the award and how it’s been trying to teach during the Covid-19 virus and he sent a soulful response to both below. We have aded a few comments from his colleagues and administrators. Enjoy!
Scott Osborn, M.Ed.
COVID Bio:
“…Teaching during the pandemic was not ideal, but I tried to make the best of it, as did my colleagues across LC. Dr. Fletcher, the district leadership team, and our school administrators tried to help us strike a balance between rigor, accountability, and compassion; from my vantage point, we did a better job with non-traditional instruction than most of the school districts in the state.
Many of my students excelled during NTI; while many struggled to meet deadlines, the quality of their work overall was quite good. I invited all of my students to journal and share those reflections with me via Google Classroom, and their honest entries expressed various challenges: loneliness, uncertainty, anxiety, and loss. I feel for the Class of 2020—which includes one of my own children. They sacrificed a lot because of this pandemic; however, I feel that one day this time will be seen as a defining one for their generation, much as the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, and World War II came to be defining crises for those generations.
Now we are turning to an uncertain future. I would like to ask for our community’s prayers and support as we attempt to plan a safe return to school this fall semester. The logistics are more complex and demanding than anything I’ve ever seen in over 24 years as an educator, so we need the strength of our community as we proceed into the unknown.
Lawrence County educators want very much to return to in-person instruction for those students whose parents are comfortable with it during these difficult times. We are working to overcome the many obstacles to ensure that it is possible. If anyone can do it, however, I am sure Lawrence County schools can.
That being said, I hope that everyone across not only our region but across the whole of the Commonwealth realizes the need for all of us to make those necessary sacrifices to ensure that our children can return to safe & healthy schools, our businesses can continue to recover without additional restrictions, and our most vulnerable Kentuckians are protected. I’d also like to see some sports this fall, so I hope everyone works to make this happen. Selfishness and ignorance are the friends of this virus; let’s all work to be more generous and better informed—and with God’s help, we’ll conquer this historic challenge and be the stronger for it.”
KDE-Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award Comments:
“I am truly honored to have been recognized for this reward and to be named a finalist for Kentucky Teacher of the Year. I just love the opportunity to represent Lawrence County High School and our community. In addition, I look forward to more opportunities to promote education as one of the cornerstones of our democracy.
As I have said before, being a teacher in the Lawrence County school system has allowed me to hone my craft within a growth mindset. Superintendents such as Mr. Eddie Michael, Mr. Mike Armstrong, and Dr. Robbie Fletcher have encouraged, inspired and supported me, as have LCHS principals Richard S. Lyon, Dr. Cassandra Webb, and Christy Moore.
Finally, it’s about the students. I’ve learned so much from my students over the years, and those lessons have made me a better teacher of literacy, a more passionate advocate for public schools, and even a better human being. Year after year, my students push me to excel—either directly or indirectly. They are inspirations to me.”
Quotes
Lawrence Co. High Principal Christy Moore:
